Staff Reports
The House is set to vote on a bill addressing antisemitism next week. This comes after concerns about anti-Israel and anti-Jewish language increasing on college campuses. The bill, called the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023, is set to be discussed at a meeting of the Rules Committee on Monday. The act, sponsored by Rep. Mike Lawler, aims to make college campuses safer for Jewish students by requiring the Education Department to use a specific definition of antisemitism when enforcing anti-discrimination laws.
House plans vote on campus antisemitism bill as anti-Israel protests spread https://t.co/qoarP4OaZh https://t.co/qoarP4OaZh
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 26, 2024
Lawler, along with other House Republicans, recently spoke out against pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University and called for the university’s president to step down, accusing her of losing control of the campus and failing to ensure the safety of every student. The bill has garnered support from 42 co-sponsors, including 12 House Democrats, who have also visited college campuses to meet with Jewish students and criticize what they see as a double standard in protecting Jewish students compared to other minorities.
During his speech, House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the inability of the university president to maintain order on campus, while facing anti-Israel chants from the protesting crowd. This latest development is part of a broader conversation about foreign aid, with the House recently passing a package including billions of dollars in aid to Israel. The vote saw a mix of support from both Democrats and Republicans, with some members voting against it.
The foreign aid package has also raised concerns, particularly after an aid bill for Ukraine did not receive majority support from the Republican majority, violating the Hastert rule. This has put House Speaker Mike Johnson in a vulnerable position as he awaits a possible motion to vacate.
